Institute for the Psychological Sciences

Nick Stevens, M.S.

To my knowledge, no other graduate school could better prepare me to be a professional in the Army and in the clinical practice of psychology.

Doctoral student and Army Reserve Officer Nick Stevens, M.S., plans on working with military veterans and their families after completing his doctoral studies.

“I grew up an Army brat, traveling the world with my four siblings and two parents, accruing 11 moves in 18 years.

Modeling my father (Army), mother (Navy) and older brother (Navy), I was awarded a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

At the time, I double majored in kinesiology to develop a biological and physiological understanding of the human person, and in psychology to gain a better understanding of the human mind.

My studies at William and Mary were rigorous and rewarding but the psychological basis of my education seemed lacking.

I knew we (mankind) were more than just brain parts and chemicals.

Graduation was quickly approaching and I had a difficult decision to make, should I enter the workforce or should I pursue graduate school studies to further my education?

With my career plans still undecided, I was commissioned in the Army Reserve on May 16, 2009 and graduated the following day from college.

Having missed the application deadlines to apply to Virginia graduate programs in clinical psychology, I was resigned to work in retail for a year until I could submit my applications for the following year.

While further researching clinical psychology programs on the internet, the Institute for the Psychological Sciences turned up in my search results.

I was elated when I learned the Institute’s Fall 2009 entering class still had a few open spaces.  Even better, the Institute was Catholic!

Although my decision to apply to IPS is not the most compelling, I can’t help but think I was meant to be here.

I’ve learned more in a year about the disciplines of psychology, philosophy, and theology than four years in college.

No group of students has pushed me harder to be a better student and a better person.

To my knowledge, no other graduate school could better prepare me to be a professional in the Army and in the clinical practice of psychology.

From my first day at IPS, where one of the professors introduced the faculty by good-naturedly roasting them in front of the first-year master’s students, I felt I was in the right place.

The Institute encourages students to balance studies, faith, and leisure to optimize our academic experience.”